Trustworthy Operating License

Seeing that an online casino operates with an MGA or UKGC license immediately dispels any potential doubts about safety and fair play.

These two organizations are among the strictest regulators which do pretty much everything possible to make sure we play in a safe environment, get what we’ve paid for and receive prompt and efficient assistance when needed.

Curacao-licensed casinos don’t automatically deliver the same peace of mind owing to the fact the Curacao government seems to be a bit more interested in recruiting new licensees than protecting players’ interests.

However, the regulator’s doubtful reputation needn’t be the reason to avoid all slot sites which hold a Curacao license.

More than a few of them provide everything a slots fan is looking for, including top-notch security measures, fair and transparent terms, efficient support and prompt payouts.

Dozens of Software Providers

The more game providers, the bigger and better the choice of gaming options. Did you know that online casinos are nowadays able to source slots from more than 140 developers? Not many of them do, though.

Some don’t understand that, as much as we love titles produced by Microgaming, NetEnt, Red Tiger, Big Time Gaming, Playtech and other leading brands, we also want a chance to try something different.

Because they have to fight with well-established giants, smaller providers work extra hard to come up with innovative solutions and creative execution.

It may be technologically more challenging to host 4,000 slots than 1,000 games but the best online casinos demonstrate that it is possible to do so without making the website difficult to use, extending loading times or compromising on the quality of gameplay.

Rather than pick and choose, they’re happy to cooperate with pretty much any good provider willing to supply their products.

Transparent Return-to-Player Percentages

Most developers incorporate RTP info into their slots and some online casinos provide the same information for every game featured on their website.

Only a few go a step further by offering players to view actual RTPs during the certain time period and compare them to theoretical ones, and if you’re really lucky, you might come across a casino which will allow you to see your own payback percentages on games played.

Operators are well aware that fairness of spin/round outcome is one of the main client concerns. Simply stating that a game uses a Random Number Generator isn’t enough; players want a credible proof.

The best slot sites respond by being as transparent as possible when it comes to actual paybacks.

Slot Tournaments

Unlike players that favour table games such as Roulette or Blackjack, fans of slots have always been playing on their own, even when slot machines were only available at brick-and-mortar venues.

The virtual world, however, makes it super-easy to transform individual gameplay into a social experience with the competition element making it all the more exciting.

It’s no longer difficult to find online casinos able and willing to organize slot tournaments with tempting rewards.

Competitions take place every single day, with varying duration and different point collection mechanisms.

Some can be entered by paying a small fee and others are open to all registered members for free. Freerolls provide a risk-free opportunity to compete against others and win prizes paid in real money or bonus cash.

Paybacks via Promotions and Loyalty Programs

If your bet happens to lose, the money is gone forever – right? Not always! Some of the best slot sites are happy to share their profits via ongoing cashback bonuses and/or loyalty programs.

Cashbacks are usually offered on losses generated during a specific day, a week or a month.

The money may be returned as real, withdrawable cash or added to your bonus balance, waiting for the wagering requirements to be met.

If you register at a site that features a loyalty program, you are literally getting paid for every wager made.

The contribution rate of different games usually varies but every real money bet helps accumulate the minimum number of points required for redemption.

Low Bonus-Related Wagering Requirements

Casino bonuses are often promoted as “free money” but that doesn’t mean operators are ready to hand over cash without asking for anything in return.

It’s quite understandable that they want you to use the gift to play at their website rather than take their money and spend it elsewhere.

That’s why bonus funds, along with the resulting winnings, remain locked until the player meets wagering requirements by betting the credited bonus amount X number of times.

Very few online casinos are willing to offer a gift with no strings attached, but even being required to wager the bonus 20x or 30x gives you a fair chance to liberate the funds and have them moved from bonus to real money balance.

Rogue operators impose unrealistic targets with play-through requirements that are virtually impossible to meet.

Imagine depositing a £100 to receive a £100 bonus which is subject to 60x play-through applied to both bonuses and deposits. You’d have to wager 60x (£100+£100) = £12,000 (!) before the casino allows you to make a withdrawal.

What’s even worse is lack of transparency when it comes to promotional T&C so that you learn about predatory conditions only after the bonus was claimed and used to play.

Accessible and Efficient Customer Support

Anyone who has tried to contact support agents and failed, or had to wait for hours before getting a reply, or was unfortunate enough to communicate with an incompetent individual unable to answer even the simplest of questions, knows how much the quality of customer service matters.

Way too many gaming sites make their representatives available during limited hours, as if unaware that their clients tend to play at different times of day and night.

Many fail to properly train their staff and build their knowledge base, making them seem just as uninformed as the player looking for assistance.

Slot sites that truly care about the customer make sure there’s someone to talk to 24/7.

They establish multiple communication channels (Live Chat and email as the bare minimum), employ enough people to deal with large traffic and educate them to be able to communicate in a friendly yet professional manner.

They make sure their employees have all the information a player might be looking for and can promptly answer any question.

Fast and Hassle-Free Withdrawals

Everything works like a charm until it’s time for the casino to pay what’s due.

Multiple obstacles seem to appear out of nowhere, prolonging the wait and eventually making the player doubt they would ever get to enjoy the profit generated via one or more spin of the reels.

Regulatory obligations are frequently used to justify pending periods which last for days although we all know (thanks to fair operators that truly value their clients) it’s possible to finalize the validation process much, much faster.

There is no legitimate reason for an online casino to hold onto your cash for 72 hours. Those that do are usually trying to keep the money in house by giving you plenty of time to transfer funds back to your casino account.

At the same time, the best slot sites deal with the KYC procedure quickly and efficiently and process cash-out requests within an hour.

Some even incorporate withdrawal lock feature which makes it impossible to cancel the request and potentially gamble the money away instead of transferring it to your bank account.

Progressive Jackpots

You’d probably struggle to find a slots fan who has never dreamt about winning multiple millions while playing the likes of Mega Moolah or Mega Fortune.

Network progressive jackpots, fueled by every real money bet, can be truly massive and it often takes a single spin of the reels to join the millionaires club.

Chances of winning may be on par with odds of claiming a lottery jackpot but we do know for sure that progressive jackpot slots do pay; all it takes is a bit of luck.

Developers keep finding new ways to offer mouth-watering rewards. Red Tiger Gaming recently came up with an innovative feature called Daily Drop Jackpots – progressives that are guaranteed to pay before a set time every single day.

These are available along with standard progressive jackpots that keep growing until someone collects, and ceiling jackpots with a guarantee to pay out before they hit a specified value.

Respect for Problem Gambling

Probably the most underestimated of all aspects of online slot sites – how they detect and treat potential problem gamblers.

Ideally, you join a site that lets you set sensible limits and will not try to lure you into playing for more than you can afford by some nasty marketing techniques.

Casumo is a great example of a socially responsible slot site. They often check up on those who deposit significantly more than usual by calling or sending an e-mail.

Compare this with some of the rogue casinos who will throw 500% match bonuses with no limits to unsuspecting players. Even though there’s no chance of withdrawing any potential winnings.